Is Stephen Colbert Seriously Running for President?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Stephen Colbert's announcement of his presidential candidacy, exploring the implications of his satirical approach to politics and the public's perception of his comedic persona. Participants share their thoughts on the seriousness of his campaign, the nature of satire in political discourse, and the reactions of the public to his character.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that Colbert is genuinely running for president, while others express skepticism about the seriousness of his campaign.
  • There is a recurring theme regarding the misunderstanding of Colbert's satirical character, with some participants noting that many people do not recognize his humor as a joke.
  • One participant suggests that Colbert's dual appeal to both political parties could be advantageous, as he may attract votes from those who do not grasp the satire.
  • Several comments reflect on the nature of irony and humor in political commentary, with some arguing that a lack of understanding of irony does not correlate with intelligence.
  • Historical references to Pat Paulson's comedic presidential campaigns are made, drawing parallels to Colbert's current situation.
  • Participants discuss the potential consequences of Colbert's campaign, including the possibility of him gaining more votes than previous comedic candidates.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the seriousness of Colbert's campaign and the public's understanding of his satire. There is no consensus on whether his candidacy is a legitimate political endeavor or primarily a comedic stunt.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference external articles and videos to support their points, but the discussion remains focused on personal opinions and interpretations of Colbert's character and intentions.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in political satire, the intersection of comedy and politics, and public perceptions of media personalities may find this discussion relevant.

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haha I thought it was a joke on his show, but apparently he's actually doing it. right now he's raising signatures. I wonder how far he'll take it. I'd so vote for him! but I'm not an american.

I never miss his show.

speaking of. I'm surprised at how many people don't understand his character is a joke. I met this girl at a party this weekend who thought they're all his real opinions. and I've heard it before from other people... anyone else find that really really really weird? I mean, she wasn't dumb or anything, which is what made it weird. and I was like "it's not really him. that's the joke; he's poking fun at people like that," but I don't think she was convinced ... I always figured a sense of humor and sarcasm was pretty much a standard built-in feature in people.

my assumption gets me in trouble more than a few times a week.
 
moe darklight said:
speaking of. I'm surprised at how many people don't understand his character is a joke. I met this girl at a party this weekend who thought they're all his real opinions. and I've heard it before from other people... anyone else find that really really really weird? I mean, she wasn't dumb or anything, which is what made it weird. and I was like "it's not really him. that's the joke; he's poking fun at people like that," but I don't think she was convinced ... I always figured a sense of humor and sarcasm was pretty much a standard built-in feature in people.

I can see how people might think that, particularly without context. I mean, it's not even that much of an exaggeration compared to someone like Bill O'Reilly.

What he's doing is ballsy for a comedian. You have to be really good to stay in that narrow zone between reality and absurdity.
 
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The thing is that he knows a lot about politics and what the American public thinks. I can definitely see him as a good president. His running for both parties is rather brilliant, because he is a satirist. He will have the right's vote that does not see the satire and the left's vote that does.

He'd have my vote for the latter reason, but I'll only be 17 by election time. :/
 
moe darklight said:
speaking of. I'm surprised at how many people don't understand his character is a joke. I met this girl at a party this weekend who thought they're all his real opinions.
Good breading stock, you must share your DNA with her.

Let me guess, a bottle blonde?

I happened to catch Larry King, The Daily Show, and Colbert's show...maybe he will get more votes than Pat Paulson in 1972.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Paulsen
The comedian was approached by the Smothers Brothers with the idea of running for President in 1968. His reply, he was later to recount, was: "Why not? I can't dance — besides, the job has a good pension plan and I'll get a lot of money when I retire."......Paulsen's name appeared on the ballot in New Hampshire for the Democratic Primary several times. In 1996 he received 921 votes (1%) to finish second to President Bill Clinton (76,754 votes). In 1992 he came in second to George Bush in the North Dakota Republican Primary.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0667323/bio
At the urging of the Smothers Brothers, Paulsen launched his 1968 Presidential campaign. The emphasis of the campaign was comedy, but lurking below the surface was serious commentary. Satire was what closed on Saturday night, but Paulsen brilliantly managed to slip satire into his comedy, without the abrasiveness of Sahl or Lenny Bruce. He was sending up the professional politicians, peppering his campaign talks with obvious lies, double-talk, and tongue-in-cheek attacks on the "real" candidates. His work as the "reel" candidate of the tumultuous, frequently absurd political year that was 1968 was the highlight of his career and gave him a place in the national consciousness and history. For his work on "The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour," he was awarded a special Emmy Award in 1968.

I might be wrong but I think Pat Paulson received a couple hundred thousand votes in 1968 or 1972.
 
moe darklight said:
haha I thought it was a joke on his show, but apparently he's actually doing it. right now he's raising signatures. I wonder how far he'll take it. I'd so vote for him! but I'm not an american.
Well it is a joke, and I suspect he'll take it as far as he can. That's commitment.
 
russ_watters said:
Well it is a joke, and I suspect he'll take it as far as he can. That's commitment.

haha no I mean a joke about actually presenting. he's been hinting at it for months; i never thought he'd actually go through with it.
and yea, he probably will take it as far as he can, he takes his jokes seriously— one of the best moments was when he presented to be named after that bridge and won. boy that backfired :smile:
 
SpaceTiger said:
What he's doing is ballsy for a comedian. You have to be really good to stay in that narrow zone between reality and absurdity.

Ever hear of Pat Paulson?
 
  • #10
Janus said:
Ever hear of Pat Paulson?

I wasn't referring to his running for President, I was referring to his show. :wink:
 
  • #11
Some people just don't get irony. I don't think it necessarily correlates with intelligence.
 
  • #12
Daverz said:
Some people just don't get irony. I don't think it necessarily correlates with intelligence.
That is a very insightful comment.
 
  • #15
BobG said:
That makes him a front runner, doesn't it?

Kind of like going on NCAA probation proves you're a real college football power house.

:smile:

If I didn't like Ron Paul so much, I'd write him in
 

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